NFL Divisional Playoff Round Games

My thoughts and comments on the NFL Playoff games of this past weekend, all of them lived up to the anticipation that built up to them in the days leading up to them.

Chiefs 23 - Texans 14

As expected, the Chiefs won this one fairly easily, and the comments during and after the game focused mainly on the officiating.  A narrative has developed over the course of this season that goes something like "the League wants the Chiefs to win"....."you can't even breathe on Patrick Mahomes without getting flagged for it".

To the first of those allegations I would say that the NFL prides itself on parity, and would probably like seeing someone else hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.  As to the second allegation, well, there were two roughing the passer calls on Houston against Mahomes that were laughable.  Even Troy Aikman, an old QB himself, said "aw, come on" to the second call.   I will point out that this is nothing new.  How many times did Tom Brady draw penalties whenever someone got within the same zip code as him over the years?  The League does mandate that its quarterbacks be protected more than other players, and the bigger and more glamorous the player, the more likely that the yellow laundry will fly.  I daresay that those penalties  that Mahomes drew on Saturday would not have been thrown if the QB was, say, Mason Rudolph or Geno Smith.  If I remember correctly, at least one of those penalties gave the Chiefs a fresh set of downs when they would have otherwise been forced to punt.

Of such things are conspiracy theories born.

Commanders 45 - Lions 31

I admit that I was rooting for the Lions in this one.  How can you not root for a team and a fan base that has never played in the Super Bowl and that hasn't won a championship since Dwight Eisenhower resided in the White House?  All that said, this Washington team has been one of the biggest stories of the year in the NFL, and their rookie quarterback Jaydon Daniels is simply phenomenal.  (I also admit to developing some degree of fondness for the Commies based on my regularly listening to a Washington DC based sports podcast.)  I can recall watching a Commanders game early in the season and making a comment as to "this kid Daniels really appears to be The Goods", and who can forget that amazing Hail Mary pass  against the Bears in October that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat?  (I love a good cliche.)

Anyway, the WFT took it to the Lions, and Jayden Daniels was clearly the most outstanding player of the weekend.

Eagles 28 - Rams 22

This was certainly the most interesting game to watch, visually, because of the snowstorm that hit Philadelphia and caused the game to be played in a snow globe.  It was also terrific game, and it confirmed in my mind that Saquon Barkley should be the MVP of the NFL this year.  

The game will also be remembered for the valiant effort by the Rams, who after falling behind by 28-15 with a little over four minutes to play, drove for a  score to make it 28-22, forced a three-and-out from Philly, and again drove the field and almost, but not quite, scored again.  It was remarkable, really.

Also, those who wagered  the Eagles (cough cough) at -6.5 will remember, and not fondly, the Philly placekicker who missed not one, but two PAT attempts in the game.

The game also prompted memories among some of us of a Steelers-Colts 1978 playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium when groundskeeper Steve "Dirt" DiNardo drove a snowplow across the gridiron throughout the game while wearing sunglasses!  (I was there!)

Bills 27 - Ravens 25

This was the game that had been most anticipated by everyone after the Wild Card games were played.  The League scheduled it for the Sunday Night Prime time slot, and, boy did it deliver.  Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson proved why they will probably finish 1-2 in the MVP voting this year.  The final outcome hinged upon the play that you see pictured above.  Trailing 27-19 as time was running down, Jackson engineered the drive that brought the Ravens to within a two point conversion of sending the game to overtime.  Then Jackson hits Mark Andrews, as sure handed a tight end as there is in the NFL, who then dropped the ball.  Is it unfair that this terrific game be depicted by Andrews' dropped pass?  Probably, but it is the play that will be most remembered, at least by Baltimore and its fans.

And to put another local twist on it, the play also brought back memories of the Cowboys' Jackie Smith's drop in Super Bowl XIII against the Steelers.

Unfair as it might be, this game will also keep the "can't deliver in the Playoffs" tag on Lamar Jackson.

So this leads to one of my favorite spots days of the year - NFL Conference Championship Sunday.  Eagles vs. Commanders and Bills vs. Chiefs.  Eagles are installed as 5.5 point favorites and the Chiefs at 1.5 point favorites.

Can't wait until Sunday, but first....Ohio State vs. Notre Dame tonight!